The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1887-05-20
miscellaneous.
Jour POOR NANNY"
AND ISIS HALY'S SPEUHCE.'


AND ISIS HALYs SPEUnCE"
Louisville Courier journal.
Our old Nanny is dead now Four year
have passed since we laid her in our Owl
beautiful cemetery, and many flowers hav
bloomed and faded on her modest little grav
since then. | venture to say that throughou
our Southern land there could not have beef
found more jealous, attentive and devoted
nurse and attendant than our faithful an(
impulsive little Nanny, She was not owe
four feet five inches tall, of II copper color
and her hair, which WAS luxuriant and ~
! black us the ravens Wing-wheucver it cOult
escape from the folds of her tidy and flaming
baudana-rea to her waist. She VA
said to have Indian blood in her veins, ant
at her death, which occurred when she wa
&c, she had not gray hair in her head. Fo
uusGlfishness, thoughtiuness and honesty sht
was perfectly fearless as tC
imposing the faith she saw in others-yet sht
had not an enemy in the world, either white
or black. All had the highest opinion of hel
character. One of her great sayings was, "a
fyar thing is Il jewel" She was member o
no church, and when asked il she was Bap
list would say, mo, chile, is a Devlist.'
But stronger faith in Jesus | never knew, Oh
one who did more faithfully what she believ
ed TO be right. She was often, we thought
very profane, but if demonstrated with woulG
say, "Well, who is | to call on, eff | doan cal
on Him ?" and certainly in the hour of deatl
the name of Jesus was her one cry and only
comfort.
Nanny had most vouble flow of words
ready for any emergency, and expressed hel
vivid imaginations in her own way, which,
mn, IN nj w in tln pbnia
est language She attended us two or three
times to the White Sulphur Springs, and once
to Philadelphia, where she attracted a great
deal of attention by her quaint appearance
and remarkable vocabulary of negro lore. I'm.
like most servants, she was not awed at the
appearance of ladies and gentlemen, and, cX.
cept before our father Qor whom she had the
greatest respect and reverence), she was not
very particular what she said or did. For
years after his death, whenever she would
sec anything she considered wrong going on
about the house or plantation, she would ex-
claim with emphasis: "Chillun, ole Master
suttenly ar gone"
1t was said of her that during the war,
while was away in the army, she would
every night go out and call me so loud she
could be heard half mile away; and strange
though it may seem, after the surrender and
after had been absent for nearly three years,
as | approached our home heard her in
clear and paintive tones calling my name.
This was about II o'clock at night, and one
may imagine her surprise and joy when / at
last answered. During these three years she
sent me all the money she had, being most of
the time in the Federal lines. She from time
TO time got hold ofsilver-something we poor
Confederates did not often see and if | had
tai, In ,upnll bo w ham Il raol fpltty
hurt Her grief at my being in the army
and away from home was really pitiable to
see, such was her devotion.
Her mind, too, was full of other anxietes,
she being the only protectress my sisters had,
and the border line is not the safest place
during civil war, rs is well known.
Nanny did not care for the society of
other servants, and rarely mingled with them
evidently preferring the company Of white
people and most agreeable companion she
was, bright an clever, along with a wonder
full memory, quick wit and fond of anecdote
Her change of humor was so great one never
knew what was coming, and with it all, as
warm and sympathetic and loving a heart as
ever beat Yes, she was in all respects Il
most remarkable character. Her life during
our childhood was spent with us, myself and
two sisters; to these two she gave the ex-
traordinary names of Sin and Fene, not that
they were bad children, but for reasons best
known to herself, and which | am unable to
explain.
One cold winter night we three children
had been put to bed in the nursery, and
Nanny had taken her accustomed seat be-
fore a bright wood fire, with her feet upon
the warm hearth (her flvorite attitude for
sleeping the whole night for she never went
to bed), when Liddy, bright-faccd house
maid, burst into the room and exclaimed ::
Aunt Evelyn, de tell me you mus come
down in de kitchen, case Sis Haly gwine tell
her 'speunce."
Aunt Mahaly was one of the quarter SER
wants who, under the influence of protractcd
night meetings of shouting, singing, and
praying, had at last 'come thcr," and had
lain aside her melancholy cast of countenance
for one of bright smiles and happy looks. AS
Liddy delivered her message, Nanny let fly
at her as quick as FASH which sounded
something like the report of Parrot gun,
"Shet dat do;" and then, in more moderate
tone, "ef you come in here wakin' up desc
chilun, I'll meek dis cheer larm out gin you
knolty haid, you outdacious dish-face devil"
Liddy did not seem TO think the situation
dangerous, and with good-natured chuckle
continued: "Jes lissen at dat. What kinder
pusS0n IL you enynOW, Aunt Evelyn D0an
you worn hear bout de 'oman's speunce2
Sis Haly Sutney ken tork beautiful. She gle
out she done bin horned agin, I'M she got de
wud de unter night when she went down de
hill fur to pray. She see greet balls er fire
flynn thru de ar, UNI little angels comm out
Ell ev'ry ball"
Here, off went the Parrot gun again:
Oats er victorious lie, dats what tits; whar
she see emmy angul? and whar she git emmy
wud. Borned agin, dar say; you go ak bur
whar my rooster buy frum Bryly John, wild
dat dollar what Miss Nancy Peasants, way
yender in Philadephy, give me when she wus
here larse summer. You AK hur whur my
rooster dat wesil-foot boy er hern stolt frum
me outen de horse-block tree, here teri night.
know he steal him. | see he jay-bud heel
in de snow-long es frum here to Winches-
ter, or scarryfied raskul"
Here Nanny ceased, for want of breath,
and Liddy-good-natured Liddy-undertook
to demonstrate with her.
"Gret King, Aunt Evelyn, what meek you
does sputify SOP 'clar TO goodness eff you
doan do leck you wus start necked mad, you
does, [ ain see terri foxes wild all dem pWinea